Tunnel-shield.



C. G. HASTINGS.

TUNNEL SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2s. |915.

1,240,446. v PatentedSept.18,1917.

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TUNNEL SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2s, 1915.

l ,240,446 Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

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C. G. HASTINGS.

TUNNEL SHIELD.

APPLICATIONFILED NOV. 25, 1915.

Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

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C. G. HASTINGS.

TUNNEL SHIELD. ARPLrcATIoN FILED Nov. 26. 1915.

1,240,446. Patendsepf. 18,1917.

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c, G. HASTINGS.

TUNNEL SHIELD.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26, 1915.

1,240,446. Patentedsept. 18,1917.

UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

CORNELIUS G. HAsTINGs, or GLENDALE, cAEIEoENIA, AssrGNoE To HAsTINGs TUNNEL sYsTEivr COMPANY, A CORPORATION or NEW YORK.

TUNNEL-SHIELD.

Appneaaon filed November 2e, 1915.

T 0 all whomy t may concern:

Be it known that I, CoRNELrUs G. HAST- iNGs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Glendale, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tunnel-Shields; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved tunneling shield of the same general type as that disclosed in my co-pending*application for Tunneling Shield7 Serial No. 872,921, filed November 19th, 1914. In the present invention, however, an improved door construction is provided permitting certain of the doors to be opened without interference with anyapparatus which may be disposed behind the doors within the shield.

It is an object therefore of this invention to construct a tunnel shield equipped with a plurality of doors giving access to the various compartments thereof, certain of said doors constructed of grid plates andv certain others of the doors of a strong flexible shutter-like construction, permitting the same to loe retracted into a horizontal open position so disposed as to form no hindrance to entrance or egress through the doorway of the compartment, thus facilitating the use of excavating tools and conveying mechai nisms whereby the material is cut away in front ofthe shield and conveyed to dump -cars at the rear of the shield.

It is also an object of this invention to construct an impro-ved type of tunneling shield provided with a plurality of vertical and transverse partitions affording a number of different working compartments with certain of said compartments provided with a heavy flexible folding door adapted to be drawn upwardly close to the roof of the par- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. 1e, 1917.

Serial No. 63,494.

construct a tunneling shield equipped with excavating and conveying mechanisms, and divided into different compartments whereby the operation of said respective mechanisms may be confined to small areas and with strong sectional shutter-like doors within the shield for said compartments in which said mechanisms are mounted adapted to be opened into a position out of use and out of possible interference with the mechanisms within the compartments.

It is furthermore an important object of this invention to providea tunnel shield divided into a plurality of compartments, certain ones thereof provided with grid plate doors through which material cut by the shield may be admitted into the compartments for transference away, and other of the compartments provided with heavy sec` tional flexible doors adapted to be opened into a position out of use and out of possible interference with apparatus mounted in the compartments, such as excavating machines, conveyers, and the like, and when closed capable of withstanding heavy crushing stresses on the exterior thereof.

It is finally an object of this invention to construct an improved type of tunnel shield equipped with different types of doors for the different compartments in which the tunneling shield is subdivided to facilitate use of the shield in projecting a bore. y

The invention (in apreferred form). is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described. f

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an interior face view of a tunnel shield embodying the principles of my invention.v

VFig. 2 is a central vertical section taken therethrough, with parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 3 is an `enlarged detail section illustrating an interior face view of one of the folding metal doors for a compartment and with certain apparatus mounted within the compartment for usetherein. y

Fig. i is a detail section taken on line 4-4 ofv Fig. 3. f

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary exterior face view og the edge of the door detached from the s ive-ldd v I Fig. 7 is a fragmentary edge view thereof.

Fig. 8 is an enlarger detail section taken on line Sv-S of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is a detail section with parts shown in elevation, taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a detail section taken on line 10h10 of Fig. 3, with the door omitted.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view taken on line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary edge view of the rollers in the channels shown in Figs. 9 and 11.

Fig. 13 is a detail section with parts shown in elevation, taken on line 13H13 of Fig. 2.

Fig. lll is a detail section with parts in elevation, taken on line l-l of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a sectional detail taken on line 15h15 of Fig. 2, with parts omitted and parts shown in elevation.

Fig. 16 is a detail section taken on line ic-ie of rig. 15.

As shown in the drawings:

The tunneling shield consists of two cylindrical shells concentric with one another, the outer one of which is denoted by the reference numeral 1, and the inner' one by the reference numeral 2, and said shells are, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, of oval cross section,l and rigidly connected and spaced from one another. rllhe forward edge of the inner shell 2, is smoothly curved outwardly, forming a flaring hood 3, joined at its outer end to the forward edge of the outer shell 1, and the upper portion of the shield, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, projects a slight amount beyond the lower portion thereofvr and the cutting edge formed by said flaring ring 3, and forward edge of the outer shel 1, inclines inwardly and downwardly fron the overhanging upper portion to slightly below the middle of the shield. A feXible slotted metal apron et, is connected on the rear end of the shield, permitting the block forming the lining of the tunnel to be built up therewithin, after which the shield is moved forward in a familiar and wel known manner by means of hydraulic rams 5. The interior of the 'shield is divided into a plurality of compartments by means off:

vertical walls 6, 7, and 8, and horizont-al partitions 9 and 10, respectively. rlhe intersection and connection of said respective walls and partitions with one another aords a number of operating compartments within the shield, and doors are provided at the forward ends thereof. For this purpose grid plate doors 11, are provided, for the outermost compartments within said shield, which, when the shield is used in soft sandy soil, may be opened to permit the soil to gravitate therethrough as the shield is forced forwardly, but the two central compartments of the shield are each provided with a peculiar heavy sliding shutterhead/ias like door which may be opened. to permit egress from said compartment for the use and operation of excavating machines. The doors for the two central lor operating compartments are made up of a plurality of T- bars 12, and riveted to the webs of said T- bars are pintle brackets 13, which project beyond the ends of said T-bars and afford a means of connection for links of a chain 14C. Secured upon each of the respective vertical walls 6, 7 and S, on each side thereof, are rectangular Z-bar frames, the vertical sides of which are denoted by the reference numerals 15, and the horizontal top and bottom ends of which are denoted by the reference numerals 16, said Z-bar frames affording a part of the interior framework of the tunnel shield.

Brazed or secured in any suitable manner on the inwardly extending flanges of the upright portions 15, of said Z-bar frames, are upright channel guides 17, for the chains lll, of said T-bar doors, and the inner iiange of each of said channels at its upper end, as clearly shown in Fig. 10, is inclined inwardly, as denoted by the reference numeral 18. Brazed or otherwise rigidly secured to the inner flange of said channels 17, from the lower end to near the upper end thereof, is a Z-bar 19, which proects inwardl f and together with the vertical portions 15, of the Z-bar frame mentioned, affords a guide for the ends of the T-bars 1,2, constituting the door. Secured in horizontal position at each side of the middle compartments of the shield on the vertical walls 6, 7, and 8, respectively, thereof, are channels 20, in which are journaled rollers 21, adapted to receive the links of the chains 1l, rolling thereon when the door is elevated into open position.

A cable 22, is connected to the uppermost lbar member. 12, of the door at one side thereof, and is also connected to a counterweight 28, which moves adjacent the framework of the shield at one side and at the rear of the compartment and the mass of the counter-weight is' slightly less than that of the door. so that the door, when moved into closed position, will remain closed by gravity, but when swung upwardly into the open position shown in Fig. 2, is retained in such position by the counterweight.

Secured upon the vertical side walls of each of the middle compartments are toothed racks or tracks 24 and 25, respectively, and adapted to be moved thereon. and supported thereby is a carriage comprising end members 2G, parallel to the tracks joined by a cross brace or transverse member 27, and journaled in each of said end members are pinions 28, which rest uponl and mesh with the teeth of said tracks 24: and 25, respectively. Pawls 30, are pivoted at the front end of each of the end members 26, and

pawls 29, at the rear end ot each of said end members, so that when said pawls are thrown downwardly into engagement with the teeth of the respective tracks, the carriage is prevented from moving -either forwardly or rearwardly thereon. For the purpose of moving said carriage on said tracks when the pawls are elevated, a handle or crank 31, is provided adapted to engage upon the inwardly extended shaft et' one of the pinions 28, torotate the same and due to its engagement with the teeth on the track to move the carriage.

Secured transversely betweenv said end members QG, is a rod or bar 32, having teeth cut onthe upper surface thereof, and resting slidably upon said bar and upon said transverse member 25, is a small carriage 33, provided with a pinion 34, meshing` with the teeth on said rod 32, and adapted to be rotated by a handle 35, to thereby move said carriage 33, transversely in either direction. Iivotally mounted upon said rod 32, between the arms ot said carriage 33, is a long arm 3G, and adjustably mounted therein is a rod 3T, on which is secured a cutter head 33, tor excavating purposes. Keyed or otherwise rigidly secured to the inner hub extension ot said pivotally mounted arm 36, is a worm wheel 39, and mounted upon the carriao'e 33, is a compressed air engine or turbine 40, secured upon the shaft ot which is a worm 4l, meshing with said worm wheel, so that the ai'igular position of the arm 36, may be varied at will, and it desired caused to swing vertically in a reciprocating manner by reversing the turbine 40, from time to time. Accordingly, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. air or other fluid reservoirs 42, are mounted in the side compartments of the shield and trom which lead supply pipes 43, to be connected into three way valves 44, from which branch pipes 45 and 4G, respectively. lead to the respective turbines 40.

For the purpose ot removing the material excavated by the cutter head 3S, or transferring the same rearwardly in the shield into dump cars or other receiving means therefor7 a portable conveyer driven in any suitable manner is provided` consisting ot- Z-bar side trame members 47, having journaled in each end thereof, shafts 4S, on which are sprocket wheels 49, adapted to engage with chains 50, the links of which have secured transversely thereacross outwardly directed T-bars 51. The upper flights oI" said chains 50, as clearly shown in Fig. 13, rest upon the inwardly directed flanges ot said T-bars 47, and brazed or otherwise suitably secured tothe web of each of said T- bars is an angle bar 52, which extends upwardly and projects inwardly over the chains 50, to afford a guard therefor.

The operation is as follows:

When. the shield has been advanced by ment.

the hydraulic rams 5, 'forwardly through the soil the folding shutter doors 12, in the respective middle compartments Vmay be opened by pulling downwardly upon the counter\ veights 23,.and then advancing` the carriages bearing the excavating mechanisms forwardly by rotating the cranks 31 until the desired positions are obtained. By manipulating the respective valves 44, the turbine engines-40, may be caused to rotate in either direction to swing the arms 3G, vertically, so that the cutter heads 33, cut away the material in trent of the shield and said cutter heads may be advanced trom time to time by rotation of the cranks 31, of course elevating the pawls 29, during such move- The material broken away by cutter heads 38, may be shoveled upon the conveyers 51, by which it is transferred rearwardly of the machine to a` point of discharge, such as into dumpy cars or the like.

I am aware that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In 'a tunneling shield of the class described dividedinto a plurality of compartments, means :tor closing certain ot said compartments, sliding shutter doors for other of said compartments comprising T- bars, pintle brackets secured thereon, and chains connected to said pintle brackets, counterweights for said shutter doors, and guides disposed at the upper ends of the compartments in which the shutter doors are mounted to receive the same when the same are in open position.

2. In a tunneling shield of the .class described divided into a plurality ot compartments, a flexible metal doei' for one of said compartments comprising a plurality of T- bars, brackets rigidly secured to the ends of said T-bars, and chain links attached to said brackets for holding said T-bars associated with one another, vertical guides disposed at the forward end et' the compartment to afford a guide and support for said door when in closed position,and horizontally disposed guides in the upper end of the compartment to receive a door dra-wn thereinto when the same is drawn open.

3. A tunneling shield comprising a plurality ot compartments, doors at the forward ends of said compartments, certain of said i vdoors comprising a plurality of hingedly ments, vertical guideways a'ordcd by the frame structure of said tunneling shield at the forward end on the sides of certain of said compartments, a sectional flexible door of T-bar sections slidable in said guideways of one of said compartments, and horizontal guides to receive the flexible door drawn thereover and disposed at the upper end of the compartment out of interference With excavating operations performed from Within said compartment.

5. In a tunneling shield divided into compartments, sectional flexible metallic doors provided therefor comprising T-bars, chains at each end of said T-bars to which said l T-bars are connected in associated relation, guides built into the framework of said tunneling shield for said sectional doors, and means receiving said sectional doors disposed thereon When the door is moved into open position out of said guides.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CORNELIUS G. HASTINGS. vWitnesses:

CHARLES W. HILLS, J r., ELMER E. PETERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

